Do I need Winter Rubber?

[jaynana]

Hi there, need some advise pls, from those who've done this before.., plus others 

i'm planning a ski trip to obertauern in Austria, in December.

question is - do i need winter tires?

don't have em, and i wasn't planning to buy :'(

thx

j

[X5Sport]

Is Winter rubber not mandatory between October & March depending upon the countries travelled through in Europe?

Does this from the AA help at all?

Richard

[jaynana]

thx

that's it then, scr3wed!

so either buy tyres or fly!

is anybody selling used winter rubber pls..?

[sid10]

hi what size & what for as I am selling wifes X1 winter wheels 225/50/17 ?

[jaynana]

E53 - can you check if they're compatible pls?

[X5Sport]

235/65 R17 is the E53 size so tyres no good.  Need to be either 104 or 108 load rating too.

X1 rims at 17" are 7.5 ET 34

X5 rims at 17" are 7.5 ET 40.

Doesn't look like the right answer....but it's only a different offset of 6mm.  If the PCD is the same and the bore then it might be a working fix  . That'll give a 5mm narrower 'track' approx.  You could fit a 5mm spacer?

This might help too....


Richard

[jaynana]

waw! thanks for that everyday  you learn something..

no way i'm gonna fix a narrower ET and try going up the alps in snow - that'll be 'Extra Terrestrial' !  )

[jaynana]

[quote="X5Sport"]
235/65 R17 is the E53 size so tyres no good.  Need to be either 104 or 108 load rating too.

X1 rims at 17" are 7.5 ET 34

X5 rims at 17" are 7.5 ET 40.


This might help too....


Richard
[/quote]

where did you find reference to 235/65 R17 Richard? - went through the manual, there was no direct quote, except for recommending this size for snow chains!

Most seem to suggest 18"ers, although I'd rather go with factory recommended.

Also the load ratio and AT:)

[X5Sport]

Alloywheelsdirect.  They list a 17" rim and that sized tyre.  As below for Style 57 wheels

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_al ... 7_wheel_13


R

[jaynana]

thanks richard.

bit odd isn't it - all 4 being the same and not staggered?

[X5Sport]

The official winter set on mine isn't staggered. I just chose to go staggered as it was an option.

Richard

[gobiman]

Hi,
I drive my 4.8iS out twice a year to my place in Obergurgl at 2000m.
In answer to your questions, it is mandatory in Bavaria and Austria to have winter rubber. I think the wording actually talks about "appropriateness" or similar (in German clearly) but the effect is that you will need them (legally) if any snow and ice around and you will be in deep dodo with the police if in an accident.
Quite apart from the legality, winter rubber is fantastic and I am a complete convert. The grip is great and bear in mind you will be wanting to drive at high speed on the autobahn probably in sub-zero temperatures to get there.
I have 18s with Vredestein Wintracs on mine (4.8 has bigger brakes) but other models will take 17s.
I would recommned getting a set of 17 or 18 OEM rims on ebay and buying your own rubber.
There not the most exciting designs but you can pick them up cheaply - plenty on ebay.de with dealers who will ship.
I leave mine on Nov- March.

[gobiman]

And anything else I can help with let me know.
Driving to ski is good fun and much better value than flying!

[jaynana]

you know - i thought i was nuts, trying to buy rims and tyres and driving there, when there was such a convenient flight option with shuttle services as well:) but then 'what's the fun of flying there..' was my thinking:)

done! bought 4 '17inch oem rims off ebay.

now after tyres.  these countries require snow tyres by law.

[X5Sport]

I would have Iceland would need 'lava tyres' not snow ones...